Fancy Wine Club & Restaurant Announces New Livonia Location

Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant is set to open its new spot in Livonia on March 2, featuring its popular wine club and a selection of modern American cuisine. The company began in 2005 in Orland Park, Illinois, and this is its latest branch.

The Livonia spot will include a tasting room, a retail shop, and a full-service dining area. Tim McEnery, the founder, started the first Cooper's Hawk after gaining experience at Lynfred Winery and learning Napa's wine culture. He brought together a winery and a restaurant under one roof.

With over 780,000 members, the Cooper's Hawk wine club is the largest in the nation. Members enjoy various activities like wine classes, group trips, and special dinners. McEnery expressed the club’s goal: “I liked the idea of bringing people together to drink the wine we were making.”

Since its inception, Cooper's Hawk has expanded to 69 locations across states, including Michigan and Illinois, using California grapes with winemaking centralized in Woodridge, Illinois.

Each restaurant offers on-site barrel aging while monthly wine selections enhance club events. These activities help build relationships through the chain’s connections. The unique menu, created with Chef Jose Esparza, includes special dishes like Mexican Drunken Shrimp.

In 2005, the wine club launched with a focus on shared experiences. The first major event took 34 members to Napa Valley. McEnery recalled, "We took our first 34 people to Napa Valley, with me hosting as a wine expert.”

Starting as a dishwasher, McEnery developed his concept and found investors by age 29. His aim was to bring Napa’s wine atmosphere to the Midwest, a vision that has fueled the company's growth.

Each Cooper’s Hawk location features a tasting room and retail area, offering members exclusive options. Wines age on-site for up to 18 months. The company’s journey from one small tank in Orland Park to a large-scale operation highlights its growth.

Wine club members share experiences, fulfilling McEnery’s original vision for community and connection through wine.